NITDA Promotes Startups As Winners Of Bridge To MassChallenge Emerge

Following the successful selection of the top 30 startups shortlisted in December 2021 for the Bridge to MassChallenge (B2MC) Nigeria Bootcamp, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and MassChallenge have announced Negs Empire, Dozzy Agricultural Enterprise, and Maximus Recycling Solutions as the three winners of the B2MC-Nigeria 2021-22 Programme.

According to a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, by head Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, this success is attributed to NITDA’s recruitment of MassChallenge services to implement a customised initiative called B2MC-Nigeria.

Over 16,000 applications submitted for 30 spots in the inaugural bootcamp programme. MassChallenge is a global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges. NITDA and B2MC in the last five months worked together to catalyze entrepreneurial activity to develop and execute innovative ideas and digital technologies.

The engagement is set to strengthen the Nigerian innovation ecosystem by providing exposure and access to global business networks, funding opportunities, and extensive knowledge to give Nigerian founders equal opportunities for their startup ventures to compete globally.

The programme kicked off with an in-depth innovation ecosystem assessment that featured a combination of relevant stakeholders’ groups which are government agencies, universities, venture capitalists and angel investors, entrepreneurs, corporates, as well as media and influencers, the statement said.

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Subsequently, two series of immense bootcamps were held. Participating startups had access to classes with curated curriculum on global best practices around innovation and entrepreneurship, custom-made mentoring and coaching offered by renowned mentors, and access to MassChallenge’s global network.

Undoubtedly, B2MC is aimed at fostering a market creating innovation, job opportunities and socio-economic development, the statement added.

One of the winners, Negs Empire (Founder: NwakubaEzinne) is an agritech venture that used the bee-keeping method to improve food security, especially crop production and honey production in localities to remedy insecurity in food supply and reduce low food production output and scarcity and inaccessibility of pure honey by packaging them in affordable pack sizes.

Dozzy Agriculture (Founder: NnadozieUkaegbu) another winner, is an agritech venture focused on closing the market gap between the fish consumed and fish produced in the fish value chain, through sustainable fish seed productivity and processing.

Maximus Recycling Solutions (Founder: Johnson Obute) the third winner is an envitech that helps people gain financial value for their waste. It uses web technology to help people gain value for their waste and provide a reliable supply of raw material to the local recycling industry in Nigeria.